Blog for North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) Acorn and Chestnut interest groups.

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Internal Kernel Breakdown (Chestnuts)

A news release from Michigan State University:

We have recently found that a type of kernel rot, not associated with a
mold or insect, is found in about 30% of the nuts from ‘Colossal’ trees
when those trees are pollinized by Chinese chestnut....we strongly suggest keep Chinese cultivars
from pollinizing ‘Colossal’. At this time we are not sure if this
affliction will show up in all European/Japanese hybrids and if all
Chinese chestnuts cause it. To be safe we suggest keeping
European/Japanese hybrid and Korean (Japanese) cultivars 500 to 1000
feet away from sources of Chinese chestnut.